Russian rotorcraft designer chooses engine for its VRT500 helicopter

The new helicopter’s first flight is scheduled for 2019 (Russian Aviation Insider)

VR Technologies, a Russian Helicopters in-house design bureau, has yet to finalize its choice of engine for the new light multipurpose helicopter program dubbed VRT500. The manufacturer is currently reviewing options from Safran Helicopter Engines (formerly Turbomeca) and Pratt & Whitney Canada, the program director, Mikhail Ivanov, revealed at the recent Helicopter Forum 2017. He also mentioned that the first flight of the new helicopter is scheduled for 2019.

Pratt & Whitney suggested its PW207 engine series, which currently powers Russian-made Kazan Helicopter Ansat twin-engined rotoraf. In its turn, Safran Helicopter Engines may offer the Arrius powerplant, which is installed on the Kamov 226T twin – another Russian Helicopters product.

The new helicopter will feature a coaxial main rotor without a tail rotor. Its MTOW will be 1,650 kg, and it will reach a speed of up to 234 km/h. Parallel certification by the Russian authorities and Europe’s EASA is slated for 2021. The manufacturer plans to launch series production the same year, with deliveries to follow in 2022.